Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho scored as Real Madrid defeated Osasuna 1-0 to go above Barcelona in the La Liga table after they suffered a shock 2-0 defeated at the hands of Hercules.

The Whites looked strong on both ends of the pitch and could have won by a larger margin, but Ricardo put on a solid performance in goal and prevented a larger deficit.

Real Madrid took the pitch with an offensive look about them. Benzema, Higuain and Ronaldo teamed up in attack with new signing Mesut Ozil playing behind them, and it was Ozil who created the first opportunity by making a pass to Higuain to give Real Madrid the lead but the Argentine’s shot was off target and so was his next shot. Osasuna then started to come in to the game, slowing the pace down and keeping more of the ball. At this time of the match, defences dominated and chances were at the least as the the first half ended.

After the break and Mourinho’s team talk, The Whites sprung into life in the second. 43 seconds after the interval Ozil hit a shot which flew just over the crossbar. And 2 minutes later Real finally got the breakthrough from a good, speedy and effective counter-attacking move which started from an Osasuna attack. A headed clearance landed to the feet of Khedira who played it in to Man of the Match Mesut Ozil, he then picked out Cristiano Ronaldo in the box who’s shot was well saved but at the follow-up Ronaldo fed in his Portuguese team-mate Carvalho who slotted the ball into the back of an unguarded net.

Osasuna tried to get a goal back but Real Madrid’s defence was too strong and they eased to their first victory of the new season and third place on the Liga BBVA table ahead of 6th place Barcelona.